Three Bulk Carriers Robbed in the Singapore Strait

A regional maritime security center based in Singapore reported today, Friday, that three bulk carriers were robbed in the Singapore Strait earlier this week. The Information Fusion Center, a regional entity affiliated with the Singapore Navy, noted that the robberies occurred between August 8 and 9, while the vessels were in the Philip Channel in the Singapore Strait. The center added that fifty such incidents have been recorded in areas stretching from India to Indonesia and South Korea since January 23, and advised vessels in the neighboring regions to exercise caution. It stated, "The majority of incidents involved bulk carriers, tugs, and slow-moving boats, and occurred during hours of darkness." The center indicated that all the robberies were likely carried out by the same group of perpetrators based on the proximity of the incidents, time intervals, and the number of individuals involved. The Singapore Strait, one of the busiest commercial waterways in the world, has witnessed a sharp increase in piracy activities in recent years.